PBA playoffs: San Miguel overcomes no. 2 North Port for semis berth

San Miguel Beermen advance to the semifinals. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–San Miguel Beer escaped second-ranked NorthPort with a cardiac 90-88 victory and booked a semifinals berth in PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Import Chris McCullough scored a tough layup to bring the twice-to-win Beermen up by a hairline with 26 seconds left to play.

The American, who took over the tested import Charles Rhodes, plucked down a crucial rebound off a Mo Tautuaa miss in the next sequence then hit the first of the two freethrows to ice the count. He finished with 31 points and 11 rebounds.

NorthPort rookie Robert Bolick, who was brilliant down the stretch had another look at the basket, but was soundly thwarted by Chris Ross near the halfcourt stripe.

San Miguel advanced to semis, joining defending conference champion Barangay Ginebra, which swept Magnolia Hotshots. It faces the winner of Blackwater-Rain or Shine contest which will be determined Thursday night.

The victory not only pulls the perennial powerhouse out of a perilous rut but also affords them a shot at securing the midseason conference title, keeping their bid for a triple crown alive.

The scores

San Miguel 90 – McCullough 31, Lassiter 11, Cabagnot 10, Santos 10, Fajardo 8, Standhardinger 8, Romeo 5, Pessumal 3, Ross 2, Rosser 2.

NorthPort 88 – Lanete 22, Tautuaa 20, Ibeh 15, Bolick 13, Anthony 10, Taha 4, Elorde 2, Ferrer 2, Mercado 0, Cruz 0.

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